Neuroinflamação, patologia da proteína tau e envelhecimento cerebral
Em camundongos idosos, (-)-epicatechin o estresse oxidativo, a neuroinflamação e a hiperfosforilação da proteína tau no hipocampo, além de melhorar vários parâmetros comportamentais e inflamatórios.
Neurogenesis, Short-Term Memory, and Nitric Oxide Signaling
This mouse study compared (-)-epicatechin with its stereoisomer (+)-epicatechin for effects on frontal-cortex-dependent short-term working memory and neurogenesis-related markers. Both compounds increased markers linked to neuronal proliferation, capillary density, nitric-oxide signaling, and memory performance, with (+)-epicatechin generally showing stronger effects.
Brain Protein Structure and Cellular Stability
This study evaluated whether (-)-epicatechin could restore dystrophin-associated protein complex (DAPC) components and dysbindin in the prefrontal cortex of mdx mice, a model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. After four weeks of treatment, (-)-epicatechin partially recovered multiple DAPC-related proteins and associated interactions, suggesting a shift toward a healthier brain protein profile.
Epicatechin and Breast Cancer Cell Migration in Vitro
This in vitro study found that (-)-epicatechin reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion markers in murine breast cancer cells under experimental conditions.